WINTER GAMES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 83, 20 June 1944, Page 8

WINTER GAMES

RUGBY FOOTBALL WUN FOR HOME TEAM The best junior game of the competition so far was witnessed on Saturday afternoon at the Whakatane Domain, when Whakatane Juniors defeated Poroporo Juniors by 20 points to nil. The exhibition of football was first class, the match being very hard, and played at whirlwind speed from beginning to end. Although Poroporo's standard of play was not quite up to that shown at last Saturday's game they eneverat last Saturday's game they neverball. . Wliakatane's win was due mainly to the extra speed and weight used by the pack, the handling and passing of their line not having the polish displayed by the Poroporo backs. Nevertheless, F. Stewart fed his; line well and -the live-eighths Ave re not slow in letting the ball out. The Poroporo line also, displayed some good handling but the men were, too well marked to get far. Teams were as follows: — Whakatane (Blue): Walker; Dines; £rreen; Rivett; Savage; Clark; Ward; Beveridge; F. Stewart; Hudson; Bluett; Cameron; L. Stewart; Hunt; and Back. Poroporo (Light Blue): Paul; J. Keepa; Romana; Mokai; Lavetty; B®own; C .Keepa; Wano; Tiepa; Riini; Kingi; HaraAvira; Martin; Ruru and Huta. Poroporo took the kick and some hard pack work at half-way followed. Gathering in, Tiepa raced olf down field but the ball found the line in Wliakatane's 25. In it came, and out to the Poroporo line. Smooth handling took it right, to Wliakatane's goal line, but a 'knock-on checked the rush, and the ball was scrummed. Out it came and away to the Whakatane line whibh took it right up-field to Poroporo's 25. Hard, fast play followed and Cameron all but, made the line. Harawira grassed him but not. before he had got the leather out to L. Stewart. Across the backs it went to Hunt who fairly flew over the line at the corner, giving Whakatane first blood. Cameron's difficult conversion fell just short, of the bar and the score '.lOAOAVOH -S->piU[ OJOCIO.I0 t I nil.. Back at halt way, Whakatane took control again, Poroporo defending hard. Huta (full) was very safe. Suddenly Dines led his forwards in a fast rush to Poroporo's 25. Hunt j gathered in a snappy pass, and dived over the line to score again in exactly the same spot as before. Cameron, who used the same, place for his kick, just tailed to convert and the score stayed at 6—o in Wliakatane's favour. Still forcing the play, Whakatane was awarded a penalty kick on the Poroporo 25 line. The conversion was, wide and the ball went into touch. The change-over saw Poroporo put on a fresh spurt and play moved into Wliakatane's 25. Suddenly Cameron gathered in, and taking advantage of a clear run, beat the whole field to score the most spectacular try of the game half way between the post and the corner flag. Back converted nicely, and brought the score to 11—0 in Wliakatane's favour. Holding the pace, Whakatane forced the play to. Poroporo's quarter where Ward snapping up another pass, dived over the 'line at | the corner. The kick was not converted, and the score went to 14—0. Back at half way, Tiepa secured the leather. L.. Stewart turfed him and the Whakatane pack rushed the ball to Poroporo's quarter. Gathering in. Walker diver over the line and the score rose to 17. Still playing solidly, Poroporo managed to hold the play at halfway for a time. Suddenly the leather went out to the Whakatane lino again and straight across to Cameron' who had changed his position to tlic, wing. Taking it nicely he ran round two men and dived over the line to score well. His kick was wide, however, and j the whistle went declaring the linal score to be 20 nil in Wliakatane's favour. The Senior Game A friendly match between Paroa and Thornton and Matata combined resulted in a win for Paroa by 18 points to 9. The heavier Paroa pack had the advantage and secured the ball from the scrums and line outs practically all the time: in the first half, although the Thornton, bovs were more successful alter the change-over. The-Thornton line was well marked throughout the game. Trys were scored for Paroa by Lawson (2), Jensen, Dodd and Simpson, Dodd also converting a penalty kick. For Thornton Lee, Kiwi and Te Mono succeeded in crossing the line. None of the trys on either side, were converted.